'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' among ABC's drama pilot pickups

When the dust settled Friday night, ABC had ordered a total of seven drama pilots to series for next season.

The Alphabet network bookended its announcements with two Disney-friendly projects, beginning with the expected pickup of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and ending with the Wonderland spinoff of Once Upon A Time. Between those bookends is an array of new dramas that should appeal to a variety of viewers, from high-concept fare such as Resurrection (formerly titled The Returned) to soapier content like Betrayal.

As an added bonus, ABC will be airing a special sneak peek at Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. during Sunday's season finale of Once Upon A Time.

Straight from the network, here are detailed descriptions of each new drama along with first-look photos:

- Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel's feature films as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson's team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) expert pilot and martial artist, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker); brilliant engineer and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet). From Executive Producers Joss Whedon (“Marvel's The Avengers,” ”Buffy the Vampire Slayer”); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” pilot co-writers (“Dollhouse,” “Dr.Horrible's Sing-Along Blog”); Jeffrey Bell (“Angel,” “Alias”); and Jeph Loeb (“Smallville”) comes Marvel's first TV series. “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.

- Betrayal. A chance meeting leads photographer Sara Hadley (Hannah Ware) and Attorney Jack McAllister (Stuart Townsend) to an undeniable instant attraction. Sarah's husband, Drew (Chris Johnson), is a successful prosecutor with political aspirations. Jack is married to Elaine (Wendy Moniz) the daughter of his boss Thacher Karsten (James Cromwell). When Karsten's brother-in-law Lou is murdered, all evidence points to Karsten's son T.J. (Henry Thomas). Jack, the company's lead council, will have to defend him. For Sara's prosecutor husband Drew, this is the kind of high-profile murder case that can secure his political future. Just as Sara and Jack's affair is starting, the lovers will find themselves in an impossible situation–on opposite sides of a murder investigation. “Betrayal” stars Hannah Ware (“Shame,” “Boss”) as Sara, Stuart Townsend (“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) as Jack, James Cromwell (“Babe,” “American Horror Story”) as Thacher Karsten, Henry Thomas (“E.T.,” “Gangs Of New York”) as T.J. Karsten, Chris Johnson (“The Vampire Diaries”) as Drew, Wendy Moniz (“Guiding Light,” “The Guardian”) as Elaine, Elizabeth McLaughlin (“The Clique”) as Val, Braeden Lamasters (“Men of a Certain Age”) as Vic “Betrayal” was written by David Zabel (“ER”) and directed by Patty Jenkins (“The Killing,” “Monster”) and is executive produced by David Zabel, Rob Golenberg (“Red Widow”) and Alon Aranya. “Betrayal” is produced by ABC Studios.

- Killer Women. Of all the notorious lawmen who ever patrolled the violent Texas frontier, none are more storied than the Texas Rangers. Being the only female ranger in this elite squad isn't going to stop ballsy, badass Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer). Molly is committed to finding the truth and seeing justice served. While she's surrounded by law enforcement colleagues who want to see her fail, including Police Lieutenant Estaban Salazar (Vic Trevino), the Rangers have her back, led by Company Commander Luis Zea (Alex Fernandez). Molly's also got her brother Billy (Michael Trucco) and his wife Nessa (Marta Milans). On the verge of getting divorced from her smarmy husband Jake (Jeffrey Nordling), Molly begins an affair with sexy DEA agent, Dan Winston (Marc Blucas). “Killer Women” stars Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) as Molly Parker, Mark Blucas (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) as Dan, Marta Milans (“Shame”) as Nessa, Alex Fernandez (“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”) as Luis, Michael Trucco (“Battlestar Galactica”) as Billy.“Killer Women” is written by Hannah Shakespeare, and executive produced by Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”), Martin Campbell, Ben Silverman, Luis Balaguer, Electus, Latin World Entertainment, and the pilot was directed by Larry Trilling. “Killer Women” is produced by ABC Studios.

- Lucky 7. In Astoria, Queens, a group of 7 gas station employees have been chipping into a lottery pool for months, never thinking they'd actually win. Money could solve problems for each of them. Matt (Matt Long) could get his girlfriend and 2 kids out of his mother's house. Matt's brother Nicky (Stephen Louis Grush), an ex-con, could pay off a dangerous debt. Samira (Summer Bishil), a second-generation Pakistani immigrant, could afford to go to Juilliard. Denise (Lorraine Bruce), a plucky cashier, could focus on rebuilding her crumbling marriage. Leanne (Anastasia Phillips), a young mother, could help her daughter realize her dreams. Bob (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), the store's manager, could finally retire and Antonio (Luis Antonio Ramos) could give his wife and kids a whole new life. “Lucky 7” stars Isiah Whitlock, Jr (“The Wire”) as Bob Harris, Matt Long (“Private Practice”) as Matt Korzak, Stephen Louis Grush (“Detroit 1-8-7”) as Nicky Korzak, Lorraine Bruce (“Eden Lake”) as Denise, Anastasia Phillips (“Stoked”) as Leanne, Summer Bishil (“Towelhead”) as Samira Rajpur, Luis Antonio Ramos (“The Ruins”) as Antonio Clemente, Christine Evangelista (“The Joneses”) as Mary. Written by David Zabel, (“ER”) and Jason Richman (“Detroit 1-8-7”), “Lucky 7” is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, David Zabel and Jason Richman. The pilot was directed by Paul McGuigan. “Lucky 7” is produced by ABC Studios and Amblin Television.

- Mind Games. Clark (Steve Zahn) and Ross (Christian Slater) Edwards are brothers and partners in a unique agency committed to solving clients' problems using the hard science of psychological manipulation. Clark is a former professor and a world-renowned expert in the field of human behavior. He has a checkered history due to bipolar disorder, which sometimes results in quirky, manic episodes. His older brother Ross is a slick con man who spent time in prison. Each in their own way knows what makes people tick. Drawing from the most cutting edge research in psychology, they can a tailor a plan to influence any situation. It's a little bit science, a little bit con artistry plus a smattering of Jedi mind tricks. The brothers, along with their team of master manipulators are offering clients an alternative to fate. “Mind Games” stars Steve Zahn (“Treme”) as Clark, Christian Slater (“True Romance”) as Ross, Megalyn Echikunwoke (“CSI: Miami”) as Megan, Cedric Sanders (“The Social Network”) as Latrell, Gregory Marcel (“The Good Shepherd”) as Miles, Wynn Everett (“The Newsroom”) as Claire. Written and executive produced by Kyle Killen, also executive produced by Keith Redman. “Mind Games” is a 20th Century Fox Television production. Miguel Sapochnik directed the pilot.

- Resurrection. The people of Arcadia, Missouri are forever changed when their deceased loved ones suddenly start to return. An 8-year-old American boy (Landon Gimenez) wakes up alone in a rice paddy in a rural Chinese province with no idea how he got there. Details start to emerge when the boy, who calls himself Jacob, recalls that his hometown is Arcadia and an immigration agent, Martin Bellamy (Omar Epps), takes him there. The home he claims as his own is occupied by an elderly couple, Harold (Kurtwood Smith) and Lucille Garland (Frances Fisher), who lost their son Jacob more than 30 years ago. While they look different, young Jacob recognizes them as his parents. Those closest to the family try to unravel this impossible mystery, including Sheriff Fred Garland (Matt Craven) whose wife Barbara drowned 30 years ago trying to save Jacob. But this boy who claims to be the deceased Jacob knows secrets about his own death that no one else knows — secrets that Fred's daughter Gail (Devin Kelly) will begin to investigate and discover to be true. “Resurrection” stars Omar Epps (“House”) as Martin Bellamy, Matt Craven (“Crimson Tide,” “A Few Good Men”) as Fred, Devin Kelley (“Chernobyl Diaries,” “The Chicago Code”) as Gail, Frances Fisher (“Titanic”) as Lucille, Kurtwood Smith (“That 70s Show”) as Harold, Sam Hazeldine (“The Raven”) as Abel, Samaire Armstrong (“Entourage,” “The O.C.”) as Elaine, Nicholas Gonzalez (“Off the Map”) as Connor, Mark Hildreth (“Dragon Ball Z”) as Tom, Landon Gimenez as Jacob. Written by Aaron Zelman (“Damages,” “The Killing”), “Resurrection” is executive produced by Aaron Zelman, JoAnn Alfano, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Jon Liebman, Brillstein Entertainment and Plan B. The pilot was directed by Charles McDougall. “Resurrection” is produced by ABC Studios.

- Once Upon A Time In Wonderland. In Victorian England, the young and beautiful Alice tells a tale of a strange new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole. An invisible cat, a hookah smoking caterpillar and playing cards that talk are just some of the fantastic things she's seen during this impossible adventure. Surely this troubled girl must be insane and her doctors aim to cure her with a treatment that will make her forget everything. Starring Sophie Lowe, Peter Gadiot, Michael Socha, Emma Rigy, and John Lithgow as White Rabbit.

I'll definitely be checking out Resurrection and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and possibly Mind Games. How about you?

"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" would work with actual big Marvel characters-but essentially their using the Marvel base to make a generic action show, it won't work.

The pilots the networks are doing are crap all across the board....

LooraLovesABC

Message Posted On May 11th, 2013, 6:06 pm

I'll be grossly immature here by generalizing bluntly and saying this has EPIC FAIL written all over it. ABC seems to be desperately fishing for a new red line through their already chaotic and uninteresting lineup. That beeing said, SHIELD, Mind Games and MAYBE Wonderland sound interesting enough to maybe make it to a full season pickup but I doubt any of those new series will get a second season. Not even SHIELD because ABC will waste yet another show trying to fight against impossible odds for timeslots they couldn't even dream of winning, let alone holding.